January 8, 2018—San Diego, CA—Abalta Technologies, a leading provider of technology and infotainment solutions for the global connected car market, today announced that the enhanced mobile radio solution powered by NextRadio®, a hybrid radio app, will be available across select vehicle platforms on in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems powered by Abalta’s WebLink software platform.

The first iteration of NextRadio for WebLink will be available in select aftermarket head units from JVCKENWOOD, and will begin shipping in early 2018. NextRadio for WebLink enables drivers in any vehicle to have a rich in-dash AM/FM radio listening experience by connecting a smartphone to a compatible WebLink-enabled car head unit, which requires minimal smartphone data and battery usage. The NextRadio app is creating rich audio/visual experience consumers expect with in-car entertainment and keeps consumers moving instead of searching. Browse stations with an “at-a-glance” view of what’s playing on the radio right now with NextRadio’s Live Guide™. Seeing familiar logos or album art makes finding content much quicker than reading, especially when consumers’ eyes need to be focused on the road.

“NextRadio represents the evolution of radio that consumers expect, and the NextRadio app provides an in-dash visual experience on par with those expectations,” said Michael O’Shea, CEO and Founder of Abalta Technologies. “As we continue to build out all aspects of the connected car experience within our WebLink platform, we are prioritizing those apps that generate the greatest mobile experiences for everyday drivers.”

Abalta brings all the pieces of the connected car experience together in one platform. Using the company’s WebLink solution, carmakers and suppliers can bridge the gap between consumers’ smartphones and IVI systems, giving car owners access to all their favorite apps in an easy-to-use, customizable and platform-agnostic environment.

“We are excited to be the first enhanced AM/FM radio experience in the connected car through our relationship with Abalta and JVCKENWOOD,” said Paul Brenner, President at NextRadio. “The ability to provide an interactive, in-car experience is a huge victory for the radio industry and offers a great experience for radio listeners.”

“JVCKENWOOD chose to work with Abalta because our goal is always to deliver a more informative, entertaining experience. With a connected iPhone® or Android™-powered smartphone, WebLink lets us offer more of the apps consumers trust and use daily, in a way that’s safer in the car,” said Rick Noetzli – General Manager Product & R&D, Consumer Product Planning at JVCKENWOOD. “Drivers rely on Waze, Yelp and Weather to make decisions on products, services and places to go. NextRadio enriches radio listening with relevant content, and YouTube provides visual firsthand content that informs and entertains. With Abalta as a content aggregator, we can focus on creating a premium, safe interface through our receivers.”

The WebLink for JVC and WebLink for Kenwood application will be available for download in the Android Marketplace and Apple App Store. Once the app is downloaded, users can connect to select WebLink-enabled car head-unit to enjoy NextRadio and other apps, including popular traffic and navigation app Waze.

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About Abalta Technologies

Abalta Technologies creates and delivers world-class software products, solutions and services for the global connected car market. Working with automotive manufacturers, suppliers and content developers, we bring all the pieces of the connected car experience together in one platform, enabling our partners to offer car owners access to all their favorite apps and services in an elegant, easy-to-use and customizable environment. The company’s SmartLink product leverages the driver’s smartphone to bring connectivity to the car without adding any new hardware, while WebLink empowers car manufacturers and suppliers to create fully customized infotainment services that support virtually any app on the market. The company also provides custom development and app design services to a number of major partners. For more information on the company, visit www.abaltatech.com.

About NextRadio® powered by TagStation, LLC

TagStation, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Emmis Communications Corporation. TagStation, LLC has developed the TagStation® service to provide radio stations with artist and title information and unique interactivity with listeners. With partial funding from NAB Labs, TagStation also developed the NextRadio® hybrid radio apps which use TagStation® cloud services to provide a rich radio listening experience on smartphones, tablets and connected cars by combining the devices’ built-in tuner and the internet. Founded in 2013, TagStation, LLC is headquartered in Indianapolis, IN with offices in Indianapolis and Chicago, IL. For more information about TagStation®, visit TagStation.com. For more information about NextRadio®, visit NextRadioApp.com.